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• I. t fire within scrub habitats can result in a dense and overgrown vegetative structure, a condition which effectively decreases scrub -lay habitat suitability {Cox 1984; Woolfenden and 'Fitzpatrick 1984; Schmalzer et al. 1994; Myers 1990; Breininger et al. 1995, 1996a, 1996b; Breininger and Oddy 1998; Breininger 1999). j._ Renroduction andUaMDgraohv Age at first breeding in the Florida scrub -jay ranges froml to 7 years, with most Individuals becoming breeders between the ages of 2 and 4 years (Woolfenden and Fitzpatrick 1991). Male scrub -jays become breeders later in life than females (Woolfenden and Fitzpatrick 1991). Nesting is synchronous, normally ranging from March 1 through June 30 (Woolfenden and Fitzpatrick 1990, Fitzpatrick et al. 1994a). However, in the Treasure Coast Region of Florida, persistent renesting attempts after nesting failures, and double brooding after successful nesting by as much as 20% of the breeding pairs, may extend the nesting season through the end of July (Toland unpubl. data). Scrub -jays typically build their nests in shrubby oaks, 3.2 to 6.4' (1 to 2 m) in height. Preferred nesting sites are Quercus inopina on the Lake Wales Ridge (Woolfenden and Fitzpatrick 1984) and Quercus myrtifolia on the Atlantic Coastal Ridge (Toland 1991). Florida scrub -jay clutches usually contain 3 or 4 eggs, are incubated for 17 to 18 days, and fledging occurs 16 to 19 days after hatching (Woolfenden 1974, 1978; �- Fitzpatrick et al. 1994x). Only the breading female incubates and broods eggs and nestlings (Woolfenden and Fitzpatrick 1984). During incubation, breeding reales are often conspicuous on sentinel perches within 165' (50m) of the nest (Toland unpubl. data). Mean annual productivity for stable populations of scrub -jays is 2 fledglings per pair per year (Woolfenden and Fitzpatrick 1990; Fitzpatrick et al. 1994x) and the presence of helpers improves fledging success (Mumme 1993). Fledglings remain dependent upon adults for food for 8 to 10 weeks after leaving the nest (Woolfenden 1975; McGowan and Woolfenden 1990). Nesting failures are nearly always caused by predation, most frequently by ground-based predators including snakes, raccoons, and domestic cats (Schaub et al. 1992; Toland unpubl. data; Breininger unpubl. data). w Recruitment of new scrub -jay territories generally occurs when the dominant male helper acquires both a mate and a portion of his natal territory through a process termed territorial budding (Fitzpatrick et at. 1991). Florida scrub -jays may also obtain a breeding space when an established territory is vacated due to death of one or both of the established breeders or, more rarely, family breakups (Fitzpatrick et al. 1991; Breininger et al. 1996b). Although the dispersal distance of Florida scrub -jays is directly related to the surrounding habitat types and intervening landscape features, most Florida scrub -jays pairs establish territories within 1 to 3 territories (984' 1300m) to 3281' 11 000m]) of their natal ground (Breininger et al. 1995). In suitable habitat, more than 95% of all observed scrub -jay dispersals are 2 miles (3.2 km) or Tess in distance and rarely do they exceed'5 miles (8 krn) (Fitzptirtrk, r'1 al. 19948). All 17